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Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The list of Frequently Asked Questions and answers are intended to provide information about the Minority Business Development Agency, our programs, and our upcoming grant competition. The information also provides basic guidance on preparing an application for the grant competition, also referred to as the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO).

Who is the Minority Business Development Agency?

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce and leads Federal Government efforts to promote the growth and global competitiveness of America’s growing minority business enterprise (MBE) community. Through MBDA’s services MBEs are better equipped to create jobs, contribute to local economies, and sustain America’s position as a world economic leader. MBDA’s programs and initiatives are focused on providing increased access to capital, contracts, and markets.

What do MBDA Businesses Centers do?

MBDA’s expertise and services are delivered through a range of activities that include funding a nationwide network of business centers. These business centers provide management, technical assistance, and business consulting services that include: identifying contract and finance opportunities; direct matching of opportunities with MBEs; assisting MBEs with accessing global markets and financing; and providing training, resources, and tools to educate MBEs about business growth strategies (e.g., mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, alternative financing).

Where are MBDA Business Centers located?

Currently, there are 44 MBDA Business Centers located throughout the United States. Each Center is strategically located in an area with significant minority populations and minority-owned firms. MBDA Business Centers do not limit their services by geographic region and may serve minority businesses located anywhere in the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Who is eligible to run an MBDA Business Center?

For-profit entities (e.g., sole-proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations), non-profit organizations, state and local government entities, Native American tribes, and educational institutions are eligible to apply to operate MBDA Business Centers.

Who is not eligible to receive MBDA funding?

The MBDA Business Center program is not a grant to start or expand an individual business.

When can I apply for MBDA Business Center Funding?

The anticipated timeline is early Fall 2015.

How do I prepare to submit an application?

The First Step
Become familiar with MBDA programs. Having institutional knowledge of MBDA and its recent efforts, impacts, and performance are key. You can learn more about our previous programs at www.mbda.gov. Take particular note of reading our most current Annual Performance Report.

The Third Step
Once the federal funding opportunity (FFO) is announced, carefully read it and plan to participate in the pre-application conference (information will be in the FFO).

The Fourth Step
If you have decided to compete for the FFO, please initiate the following administrative procedures as soon as practicable:

Dun and Bradstreet
The D&B number is used as the best way for the federal government to identify and track organizations and companies that receive grants through federal government programs. A D&B number can be obtained online or over the phone at 1-866-705-5711.

System for Award Management (SAM)
The SAM is the official U.S. government system that consolidated the capabilities of several government-wide registries including the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) System. You must register your business with at www.sam.gov to do business with the federal government.

Grants.gov
This is the final step in the application process, and cannot be completed unless the applicant has registered with each of the stated entities above.

The Fifth Step
Write the proposal for submission and submit.

After the application is submitted, what is the review process?

The panel review process begins with an initial screening to verify that all required forms and documentation are received by the deadline. Each application then goes through an independent merit review by a panel of no less than three experts, of which at least one panel member will be an MBDA employee. Each application is reviewed based on the criterion published in the Announcement of the Federal Funding Opportunity. The panel will review, evaluate, and provide a score for each application.

Following the panel review, the final scores will be assessed by the Associate Director and Chief of the Office of Business Development, Headquarters. The Associate Director will provide a written memorandum to the MBDA National Director, and the final recommendations are provided to the Department of Commerce Grants Program Manager who ultimately awards the selected applicant.

How long does this process take?

The specific timeline will be included in the FFO. Typically, the anticipated time for processing awards is approximately 150 days after the closing date. MBDA will notify unsuccessful applicants in writing after the final selections have been made and the offers have been accepted. Further instructions on how to apply are provided in the FFO.

Is my organization a good candidate to operate an MBDA Business Center?

Awarded organizations are commonly referred to as Center Operators. Center Operators are key partners in achieving MBDA’s mission and assisting minority-owned firms as they strive to grow to size, scale, and capacity to compete both domestically and internationally. An applicant can best determine for itself if it has the capability or capacity to deliver the program goals as detailed in the FFO.

How are business centers evaluated?

Metrics used for evaluation may include jobs created and retained, contracts awarded, and financial transactions. For additional information, please visit www.mbda.gov and www.federalregister.gov.

What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement?

The key difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement is that under a cooperative agreement, the Federal agency has substantial involvement in the operation of the center and the technical assistance provided.